As an effort to reduce early childhood obesity, partners of the Live Well San Diego initiative educate parents, caregivers and teachers on the importance of adopting healthy habits at an early age.

VIP Village Preschool, a provider of First 5 San Diego’s quality preschool program, launched its fitness and healthy eating partnership with Live Well San Diego on Thursday, May 29, 2014.  County Supervisor Greg Cox, chair of the First 5 Commission of San Diego; Nick Macchione, Director of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency; Kimberly Medeiros, First 5 San Diego Executive Directo;r and David Sheppard, VIP Village Preschool Director, were at VIP Village Preschool, located at 1001 Fern Avenue in Imperial Beach, to celebrate the partnership. South Bay Union School District’s VIP Village Preschool was welcomed as the first early childhood education center in the region to join the Live Well San Diego initiative to build healthier and safer communities.

“We need to start teaching healthy living skills to children at an earlier age and having VIP Village Preschool join Live Well San Diego is a great way to do that,” said Supervisor Greg Cox, Chair of the First 5 Commission of San Diego. “I hope they become the model for other preschools in the region.”

As part of the First 5 San Diego Quality Preschool Initiative, VIP Village Preschool is in the second year of implementing a Live Well San Diego pilot project in which teachers work with a local fitness specialist to learn exercise techniques and healthy eating options for young children.  To further support the project, the South Bay Union School District’s Director of Child Nutrition made systematic changes to improve child nutrition at VIP Village Preschool by increasing servings of whole grains and fresh produce and reduced the amount of foods high in sugar and processed flour.  Preschoolers also receive a monthly newsletter that highlights a variety of nutrition and fitness ideas for their families to try at home.

VIP Village Preschool will continue to support positive choices by working with the County of San Diego and First 5 San Diego to promote health education for the network of adults surrounding each child on the importance of adopting practices that contribute to improve health.

The project has changed the way VIP Village Preschool operates from a health standpoint. Through this partnership, VIP Village Preschool seeks to influence the rest of the community to embrace health and fitness at an early age.

Pictured above: County Supervisor Greg Cox and Health and Human Services Agency Director, Nick Macchione, celebrate VIP Village Preschool Live Well Day with First 5 San Diego Executive Director, Kimberly Medeiros, and VIP Village Preschool team

County Supervisor Greg Cox presents a proclamation to VIP Village Preschool Director, David Sheppard
From left: David Sheppard, Director of VIP Village Preschool; Dr. Randy Ward, Superintendent of San Diego County Office of Education; Supervisor Greg Cox; Lucia Garay, Executive Director of Early Education Programs and Services at San Diego County Office of Education; and Nick Macchione, Director of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency

VIP Village Preschoolers demonstrate part of their fitness routine